Merkel hits back for German car-makers

New EU proposals to lower average CO2 emissions from cars have come under attack from an unlikely source this week – the German government. Chancellor Angela Merkel said ‘I think I can go as far as to say that we will prevent a general reduction [in emissions].’The German government is reported to be worried about the potential damage to the German car industry and to the fragile German economy caused if fleet carbon dioxide emission targets are made law. VW, DaimlerChrysler, BMW and Ford have sent a letter to the EU objecting to the limits, which they call ‘massive industrial policy intervention that will burden the entire European automobile industry’.The EU wants to impose a compulsory limit of 120g/km by 2012 as an average across a car maker’s range. It claims that car makers have done little to meet the voluntary 140g/km limit and that legislation is needed.